Liberty High School’s Homecoming week generated so much school spirit that the Lions willed their varsity team to a victory against the American Eagles.

Spirit week helped generate the buzz for last Friday’s big game, but it’s always the rally and the parade before the game that gets the Lions ready to roar. The rally featured performances by the dance team and the cheer squad plus the introduction of the Homecoming Court. The Court included Princes Paul Alarab, Edgar Barraza, Tyler Blank, Kirk Fisher, Will George, Isaiah Ichihara, Quinn Steely, Shawn Vasquez, Tony Webb and Kyle Zimmerman, and Princesses Emily Agudo, Geo Alexander, Jillian Butler, Niya Davis, Brooke Edwards, Zahira Estrada, Elly Green, Haley Hickman, Chantal Lasher and Sam Simpkins.

This year’s rally took a more formal and traditional tone, exuding sophistication rather than satire, eliminating the silly skits performed in the past. But despite the program change, Liberty Leadership advisor Summer Rodriguez felt the school spirit was just as charged as it is every year.

“This year we wanted to make sure that the focus of Homecoming was based on the spirit of what Homecoming truly is – alumni coming home and honoring Liberty and its traditions,” Rodriguez said. “Thus, we removed the skits, opting for an introduction of the court and what impact they had made on Liberty during their time here. Additionally, we decided to focus on the traditions of Liberty that current students may not be aware of. We did so via a (trivia) game. We wanted the focus to be more on the school and the community and less on funny skits.”

Once all the members of the court were introduced, the princesses took on the princes in a Liberty trivia game that featured questions such as “What are the Liberty school colors?” (answer: cardinal and gold) and “Which teacher has been teaching at Liberty the longest?” (answer: Choir Director Sue Stuart). While the court royalty was given “lifelines” such as Phoning a Freshman and Suggestion From a Senior, the princes in their jeweled crowns and the princesses in their sparkling tiaras relied on their fellow royals for support. Ultimately, the princes were able to squeak past the ladies with a 8-7 victory.

Classes took turns demonstrating their school spirit during a chanting contest, but as always, the seniors blew the underclassman out of the water with their bellowing roar “2-0-1-1! Class of 1-1!” During the Homecoming parade through downtown Brentwood prior to the game, the community joined in the charge, projecting good vibes to the varsity Lions by cheering on the class floats and the student and community groups that strutted their school spirit for the crowd. Again the Class of 2011 came out on top with a win for their Toast the Eagles float.

But the loudest cheers came during the rally when Webb and Edwards were crowned as Homecoming King and Queen. Despite the overwhelming love from the crowd, both were surprised by their wins.

“I didn’t expect this at all,” said Edwards, who serves as Associated Student Body president. “This is really nice. I’m grateful for all the people who voted for me. I’m really surprised.”

Webb, a varsity linebacker, was surprised too, assuming fellow football player and Homecoming Prince Shawn Vasquez would take the crown. But moments after taking over the role as king, Webb settled into his regal duties and offered a prediction about the evening’s big game. “Oh, we’re definitely going to win. I’d say it’ll be 100 to 0 easily.”

Webb’s prediction wasn’t entirely accurate, but with a final score of 22-16, the Lions did, in the end, toast the Eagles.